Garter clasp



W. J. DEMPSEY.

GARTER CLASP.

'APPLICATJON FILED APR. 12! 1920- RENEWED NOV.'9.1921.

. Patented Jan. 3,

INVENTOR W/LLYfl/W .1. HEMPSEM A'x'ron NEYS barren-stares e arena caries.

XVIIliIlLJIAIIlGZ DEMPSEY. OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

GAR-TEE CLASP.

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Specification of Letters E'atent.

Patented J an. 3, 1%22.

Application filed April 12, 1920, Serial No. 373,029. Renewed November 9, 1921. Serial No. 514,122.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VVILLIAM J. DEMPSEY,

, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented. new and useful Improvements in Garter Clasps, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in garment supporting devices and especially to a hose supporting clasp by which the stocking may be securely held by the clasp without causing any stretching or appreciable wear on the portion of the hose which is engaged by the clasp.

The invention relates further to a clasp which is readily and quickly applied or detached and which is adapted to grip a greater portion of the stocking than most forms of garter clasps now in use, thereby reducing the tendency to cutting threads or tearing the stocking and forming stocking runners.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the garter clasp showing it applied to a stocking.

Fig. 2 is a section of the clasp showing the parts in interlocked position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the clasp sections in position to be separated.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the garter clasp consists of two plate-like members as indicated at 2 and 3. These plate members are comparatively wide and the plate 2 terminates in a hook shaped member 4, while the plate 3 terminates in the head member 5. The upper ends of the plates are slotted as at 6 and both plates are attached to individual straps which in turn may be supported as desired.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a garter clasp which will present a wide grip and which is readily and quickly applied or detached. If it is desired to apply the clasp, it is first necessary to separate the clasp sections and to insert the edge of the stocking in the hook section 4 of the plate 2, as shown in Fig. 2, and then to insert the head member as shown stocking, it is only necessary to swing the plate 3 into the position shown in Fig. 3, and to separate the plates by removing plate 3 in the direction of arrow A, that is, the space between the main portion of the plate 2 and the upper lip of the hook 4 is such that the head member 5 can pass between the same. A complete release of the stocking is in this manner obtained and the hook can therefore be disengaged with relation to the same. The clasp here shown presents a wide grip and therefore engages a comparatively large section or area of the stocking. The strain applied thereto is thus transferred to a comparatively large area and wear and tear is proportionately reduced. Runners and tears are thus practically eliminated, and the life of the stocking should proportionately be increased.

The clasp sections are here shown as constructed of metal. They may be covered with a fabric material if desired and variations in the design may be resorted to. The materials and finish of the parts may otherwise be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

The straps supporting the clasp sections 2 and 8 may be supported in any suitable manner. For instance, they may be attached by means of an elastic to a corset, or they may be employed in connection with any other suitable harness or support.

The entire invention resides in the construction of the clasp members and I therefore do not wish to limit the invention to any particular supporting means.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters 2. A clasp of the character described, comprising a pair of supporting straps, a plate member secured to each strap, the lower end of each plate being turned inwardly and then upwardly to form a hook -on one plate and a head on the other, said head or the one plate being insertable into the hook of the other plate when brought to an angular position and interlocking with said hook when brought to its vertical supporting position.

8. A clasp of the character described, comprising a pair of supporting straps a plate securedto each strap, one of said plates being greater in length than the other, and 

